IRES-International Research in Geosciences (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences) in Ethiopia

这项建议的重点是为美国学生和非传统留学目的地--埃塞俄比亚--的少数族裔学生提供国际地球科学教育和研究机会。只有4%的国际本科生研究经验在非洲。最近的研究记录了这些国际经验的好处，包括：增加对其他文化、世界地理、文化相对主义和全球相互依存的了解。一般来说，学生对具有实际影响的具有全球重要性的问题表现出越来越大的热情，并强烈地被跨学科课程所吸引，特别是那些与社会相关的课程。这项提案中的合作将有助于在美国培养一支参与全球事务的劳动力队伍，并为学生提供机会，作为国际社会的一员来解决全球性的问题。该项目可以对美国学生在两所参与的美国机构的地球科学教育和研究中的参与产生重大影响。我们预计，参加国际学习、研究培训计划和海外实地经验的学生将获得地球科学方面的知识和研究技能，并将被鼓励在这些领域从事学术和/或工业职业。北卡罗来纳农工大学(NCA&amp；T)和埃塞俄比亚的科学家和学生正从这项合作中受益，因为他们现在正在发展长期的合作关系，为联合全球项目创造条件。埃塞俄比亚是培训美国学生学习地球科学的理想天然实验室。除了冰岛，主要的埃塞俄比亚裂谷和阿法尔凹陷地区是地球上唯一正在研究从大陆裂谷向海洋裂谷过渡的地方。穿越埃塞俄比亚的东非裂谷系统是世界地质奇迹之一，地球构造力量目前正试图通过分裂旧板块来创造新的板块。埃塞俄比亚和撒哈拉以南非洲也是生物质燃烧产生的大气气溶胶水平最高的地区，生物质燃烧被认为是区域碳、能源和水循环的主要驱动因素。选定的IRES学生将与NCA&Amp；T、亚的斯亚贝巴大学(AAU)和阿巴拉契亚州立大学(ASU)的研究导师以及AAU的学生研究人员合作，(1)开展地球物理研究，包括探索地热能和地下水来源；(2)开始对亚的斯亚贝巴的大气气溶胶进行长期测量；(3)对BB气溶胶光学性质进行实验室研究；(4)应用傅里叶变换光谱技术编制一氧化碳(CO)排放清单。拟议的活动建立在这三所大学现有的研究能力以及NCA&amp；T和AAU之间的合作基础上，这些合作让许多美国本科生参与了国际研究经验。研究经验将在世界上一个作为理想的自然地球科学实验室(地球和大气科学)的地区进行，该地区传统上被国际学生的研究机会所忽视。美国学生参与者将与AAU学生和教师研究人员合作，他们是各自领域的跨学科地球科学项目的领导者，这些项目将灌输地球系统科学方法，并具有社会影响，包括地热能、水资源、板块构造以及区域空气质量和气候变化之间的关系。

This proposal focuses on providing international educational and research opportunities in geosciences for US students and underrepresented minorities in a non-traditional study abroad destination, in this case Ethiopia. Only 4% of international undergraduate student research experiences are in Africa. Recent research has documented the benefits of these international experiences including: increased knowledge of other cultures, world geography, cultural relativism, and global interdependence. Students in general show increasing enthusiasm about problems of global importance that have practical consequences and are strongly attracted to interdisciplinary courses, especially those of societal relevance. The collaborations in this proposal will aid the effort of developing a globally engaged workforce in the US and provide the opportunity for students to tackle problems of global magnitude as members of the world community. This project can have a significant impact on the participation of U.S. students in geosciences education and research at both participating U.S. institutions. We expect that students participating in the international study, research training program and field experience abroad will acquire knowledge and research skills in geosciences and will be encouraged to pursue academic and/or industrial careers in these areas. The scientists and students at North Carolina A&T University (NCA&T) and in Ethiopia are benefiting from the collaboration, as they are now developing long lasting relationships that create the conditions for joint global projects. Ethiopia serves as an ideal natural laboratory for training US students in the geosciences. The main Ethiopian Rift and the Afar Depression region is the only location on earth, other than Iceland, where the transition from continental to oceanic rift is being studied. The East African Rift System crossing through Ethiopia is one the geologic wonders of the world, a place where the earth's tectonic forces are presently trying to create new plates by splitting apart old ones. Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa is also home to some of the highest levels of atmospheric aerosols from biomass-burning (BB) and BB is believed to be a major driver of regional carbon, energy, and water cycles. Selected IRES students will work alongside research mentors from NCA&T, Addis Ababa University (AAU) and Appalachian State University (ASU) and student researchers from AAU to (1) conduct geophysics research including exploring geothermal energy and groundwater sources; (2) initiate long-term measurements of atmospheric aerosols in Addis Ababa; and (3) conduct laboratory-based studies of BB aerosol optical properties (4) apply Fourier Transform spectroscopic techniques to develop carbon monoxide (CO) emission inventories. The proposed activities build upon existing research capabilities at the three universities and collaborations between NCA&T and AAU, which have involved numerous US undergraduates in international research experiences. The research experiences will be conducted in a region of the world that serves as an ideal natural geoscience laboratory (Earth and atmospheric sciences) and which has traditionally been neglected for international student research opportunities. U.S. student participants will work alongside AAU students and faculty researchers who are leaders in their field on interdisciplinary geoscience projects that will instill Earth system science approach and have societal implications, including geothermal energy, water resources, plate tectonics, and relationships between regional air quality and climate change.